Ink distributing device for printing presses



June 21, 1932. M. A. CUNNINGHAM INK DISTRIBUTING DEVICE FOR PRINTING PRESSES 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

Filed May 21, 1928 1km b MA...

June Zl, 1932. M. A. CUNNINGHAM 1 4,

INK DISTRIBUTING DEVICE FOR PRINTING PRESSES Filed May 21, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 21, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MATTHEW A. CUNNINGHAM, OF STO'UGI-ITON, MASSACHUSETTS, .ASSIGNOR, BY MESN E AS- SIGNMENTS, TO CUNNINGHAM-JACQUES COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHU- SETTS, AND TO RUSSELL SUPPLY COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK INK DISTRIBUTING DEVICE FOR" PRINTING PBESSES Application filed May 21,

This invention relates to an ink distributing device for printing presses and more particularly to an auxiliary device of that character for use on cylinder presses.

In cylinder presses of certain constructions employing a horizontal series of rolls for applying ink to the form carried by a horizontally reciprocating bed-plate, the rearward throw of the bed-plate is so limited that the entire form does not pass under all the rolls. The result is the forward end of the form receives ink only from those rolls under which it passes and when a series of three rolls is used and the forward edge of the form at the end of its backward movement is in front of the front roll, there is a portion of the form which receives ink from one roll only and another portion from two rolls only. In consequence, the impressions from the forward portion of the form have less ink and are lighter than the impressions from that part of the form which has had the advantage of contact with all three rolls. In some kinds of work, the amount of available space for form use is limited to that portion which passes under all three rolls. Furthermore, there is a portion of the bed-plate which never comes under any ink roll but which would be available to increase the size of the form from an inch to an inch and a half in depth on its forward edge provided ink could be applied thereto. An increase of available form space in such cylinder presses is of 3 great advantage, increases the capacity of the presses and in many instances will cut the number of impressions necessary for a job fifty percent and thereby effect a large saving. y

The principal object of the invention is the provision of an ink distributing device applicable to a cylinder press of the character described for distributing ink evenly over the form and particularly over those portions of the form which are not engaged by all of the inking rolls.

Another object of the invention is the production of a device of the character described which is applicable to any cylinder printing press and which may be mounted on the press 1928. Serial No. 279,321.

or removed therefrom as occasionrequires and with a minimum of tlme and effort.

A further ob ect is the provislon of means for operating the device by the movement of my invention, Figure 1 is a plan "view' of I a cylinder printing press with the cylinder removed, showing an ink distributing device constructed and adapted to be operated in accordance with my invention appliedthereto; Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the ink distributing device; Fig. 2 is a detail side view showing the mounting of the brush bar to which the ink distributing device is attached; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic view on line 3-3 looking from right to left in Figure 5 with the bed-plate in full retracted position; Fig. 4; is a similar view to Fig. 8 but with the bedplate in extreme forward position; Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view on line 5-5 looking upwardly in Figure 1 and Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view on line 66 looking from left to right in Fig. 2. y y

Referring to the drawings,"there is shown for illustrating the application of my invention thereto certain parts of'a cylinder printing press comprising a reciprocating bedplate 10 carrying a chase 12 for enclosing the form 13, a cylinder 14 for the paper to be printed and a set of three inking rolls 16, 18 and 20 of suitable material arranged in a horizontal series back of the cylinder, all supported by a suitable frame, parts 22 of which are shown. The bed-plate is recipro cated in a horizontal path on a pair of tracks 24. .A. rack 26 carried by the bed-plate serves to operate the several vibrating rolls cooperable with the ink distributing rolls16, 18 and 20. These vibrating rolls have been omitted from the drawings to simplify. the illustration. I

The cylinder is mounted on a shaft 28 and the inking rolls on shafts 30, 32 and 34 respectively which are rotatably mounted in bearings 36, 38 and 40 respectively in the frame 22. Screws 42, 44: and i6 arerespece tively provided for adjusting the bearings and therefore the inking rolls vertically. At the opposite side of the cylinder and closely adjacent to it there is a brush supporting bar 22* extending crosswise of the bed plate. Fastened by screws 48 to the bar 22 (Fig. 2) is a strip 50 carrying a brush 52 for cleaning the paper on the cylinder before it is pressed onto the form in the printing operation. The ends of the bar 22 are htted in slots or notches 22 formed in extensions 22 of the press frame and opening away from the cylinder. The ends of the bar have projections 22 for suitably positioningtheni' in the slots. Each frame extension 22 has a setscrew 22 engageable with one of said projections to hold the bar in place. lVhen the setscrews are released. the. bar and supported brush may be withdrawn from the slots and removed from the press. Aflixed to the rear end of the bed-plate is an ink plate 54 for distributing ink upon the inking rolls when the bed-plate is reciprocated. All of the foregoing parts are old and well-known as parts of one type of cylinder press and constitute no part of my invention.

It will be observed that when the bedplate is at theend of its rearward stroke (Fig. 3) that that portion of the form, when. the entire area of. the bed-plate is utilized for it, which is in front of the inking roll 16, cannot receive any ink whatever, that the portion between inking rolls 16 and 18 receives ink from the roll 16 only and the portion between rolls 18 and 20 receives ink from two rolls 16 and 18- only, whereas the rest of the form has ink applied thereto by all three rolls. This uneven application of ink results in a varying intensity in the printed sheets which is especially noticeable when the work involves large type or inked spaces or areas.

The novel feature of my invention consists in providing a distributing device adapted as the form reciprocates to take up ink from the heavily inked portions of the form and transfer it to those portions of the form which are not inked or are partially inked only and one form of the invention comp-rises an ink distributing roll so located that it engages the greater portion of the heavily inked parts of the form and the other portions of the form having a lesser amount or no ink. Preferably, the distributing roll of suitable material on a shaft 61 is arranged just in front of the cylinder 14 and the shaft 61 is rotatably mounted in bearing blocks 62 having vertically grooved ends for locking in endbrackets 64 which in turn are each locked to the bar 22 which carries the brush 52, by clamps 65 and 66 and a screw bolt 67. Each clamp has a nose portion 68 overlapping the top of the end-brackets 64: for holding them in position while being locked anda knurled engaging surface, which in the case of the clamp 65 engages the grooved end of the bearing block 62 and locks it in position and in the case of the clamp 66 engages the crosspiece of the frame 22. For rotating the distributing roll when the bed-plate and form are reoiprocated, there is fixed to each end ward edge of the bed plate in order to remain in supporting and driving engagement with the rollers 70 at the limit of the rearward movement of the bed plate. The tracks also form bearers for the cylinder 14. They are detachably held to the bed plate by screws. Each roll is made up of two disk members 72 and 7 3 with an intermediate member 7 0 of compressible material, the former of said two disk members being provided with a threaded stern 74'bored to lit the shaft 61 and the latter bored centrally to lit said stem loosely and recessed on its outer side to receive a nut 7 5 threaded on said stem. Holes 7 6 in the nut permit a tool tobe inserted for turning the nut on the stem to move the disk 7 3 inwardly to compress the friction member 7 0 or outwardly to release it. The disks are bevelled on their inner faces and the friction member Egon both sides in the opposite direction 1* 1g. moved together by turning the nut 75 in the right direction, the friction member is expanded circumferentially. To prevent rotation of the friction member independently of the disk 72 which is locked to the shaft 61 by 1 a key 77, the two disks may have keys 7 8 formed on their inner faces for engaging recesses in the friction member.

For spreading the ink on the distributing .6) so that when the two disks are Q roll, a vibrating roll is loosely mounted on a shaft 81 which is supported at both ends in oblique slots 82 in the end brackets 64. The width of said slots is slightly less than the diameters of the ends of the shaft which are cut away or flattened at two opposite points to permit their insertion in the slots and to hold the shaft fixed against rotation. A set screw 83 is threaded through the end plate to bear against one flattened side of the end of the shaft to hold it in adjusted position (Fig. 2). The slots are so located in the tops of the end brackets that the vibrator roll normally engages the top of the distributing roll off center.

For moving the vibrator roll longitudinally as itis rotated by engagement with the distributing roll, a worm 84 (Fig. 5) is formed on the vibrator shaft at one end which engagesa worm groove formed on the inner surface of the cylinder 85 of the vibrator roll. The rotation of the latter roll on its fixed shaft causes a longitudinal movement thereofin relation to the shaft through the instruinentality of the worm which is of such length and pitch that on the forward movement of my invention the bed-plate the vibrator roll is moved in one direction and on the rearward movement of the bed-plate is moved in the other direction. A helical spring 86 (Fig. 5) on the opposite end of the shaft from the worm prevents the vibrator roll from getting out of engagement with the worm in order to insure a reversal of longitudinal movement when the roll is reversed by the reversal of the bed-plate.

In the operation of a device constructed in accordance with my invention, when the form used on the press occupies the full capacity of the bed-plate, its forward edge receives no ink and the space between the roll 16 and the roll 20 receives less ink than the remaining portion of the form but as the bed-plate is thrown forward, the distributing roll takes up ink from the heavily inked portions of the form and applies it to those portions deficient in ink. After a few movements of the bed-plate, the operation of the distributing roll results in an even distribution of ink over the entire form, the vibrating roll spi'leading the ink evenly on the distributing r0 It will be observed that my distributing device is simple and efficient and may be applied to or removed from a printing press as a unit and with little expenditure of time and efiort. The detachable brush supporting bar 22 and its mounting are regular parts of a standard Kelly press and the bar afv fords an excellent mounting for the auxiliary ink-distributing device and facilitates the installation and removal thereof. After merely unscrewing the set screws 22 the brush supporting bar, the brush and the inkdistributing device may be easily removed as a unit. Then, if it is desired to dispense with I said device, owing to the nature of the printing work to be done, the device may be detached from the brush bar by releasing the clamps.

Furthermore, the use of my device is not to be limited to the type of printing press hereinbefore shown and described because it is equally applicable to any form of cylinder press which is open to the objections herein noted. One of the principal advantages of is that it permits full utilization of the bed-plate for the form in cases where such utilization is restricted by the limited reciprocating throw of the bed-plate and When so used it frequently cuts in halves the number of impressions necessary for completing a ob thereby greatly reducing both the expense and the time involved.

It is to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the exact form herein shown and described since it is capable of other embodiments within the scope of the following claims. a

What I claim is:

1. An ink distributing device for printing presses having, in combination, a pair of end brackets, clamping means mounted on each of said brackets for fastening said brackets to a fixed part of a printing press, a bearing block mounted in each of said brackets and held therein by the said clamping means thereon and an ink distributing roll rotatably mounted in said bearing blocks.

2. An ink distributing device for cylinder printing presses having, in combination, a pair of end brackets, each of said brackets being provided with means for clamping it to a fixed part of a printing press, a bearing block mounted in each of said brackets and held therein by said clamping means, a distributing roll-rotatably mounted in and between said bearing blocks for engaging the form on the press to distribute the'ink thereon and means whereby said roll is rotated by the reciprocation of the bed-plate of the press.

3. An ink distributing device for cylinder presses having, in combination, a pair of end brackets, each of said brackets being. provided with clamps for fastening said bracket to a fixed portion of a printing press, a pair of bearing blocks mounted one in-each of said brackets and held therein by said clamping means, an ink distributing roll rotatably mounted in said bearing blocks, a vibrator roll loosely mounted on a shaft supported by said end brackets and fixed thereinagainst rotation, said shaft and said vibrator roll having an intermeshing worm and worm groove respectively to cause longitudinal movement of said vibrator when rotated on said shaft by engagement with said distributing roll. I

4. An ink distributing device for printing presses having, in combination, a pair of end brackets each provided with an oblique open slot, a bearing block carried by each of said brackets, means carried by eachof said brackets for adjustably clamping it to a fixed part of a printing press, said clamping means being adapted for locking said bearing block in position, an ink distributing roll rotatably mounted in said bearing blocks, a shaft loose- 1y mounted in said oblique slots, the ends of said shaft being flattened on opposite sides to prevent rotation of said shaft in said slots and a vibrating roll loosely mounted on said shaft and in. engagement with said ink distributing roll, said shaft and said vibrator roll being provided with intermeshing means for reciprocating said vibrator longitudinally when rotated.

5. An ink distributing device for cylinder printing presses having, in combination, a

pair of end brackets each provided with an oblique open slot, a bearing block carried by each of said brackets, means carried by each of said brackets for adjustably clamping it to a fixed part of a printing press, said clamping means being adapted for locking said bearing block in position, an ink distributing roll rotatably mounted in said bearing eluding a brush supporting blocks, a shaft loosely mounted in said ohlique slots, the ends of said shaft beingflattoned on opposite sides to prevent rotation of said shaft in said slots, a vibrating roll loosely mounted on said shaft and in engage: ment with said ink distributing roll, said shaft and said vibrator roll being provided with intermeshing means for reciprocating said vibrator longitudinally When rotated, and means whereby said distributing roll is rotated by the reciprocation of the bed-plate of the press.

6. An auxiliary ink distributing device for a press of the bed and cylinder type having mountings for a brush supporting bar adjacent the cylinder, comprisinga unit including a brush supporting bar and an ink distributing roll, the bar being releasably attachable to said mountings on the press to hold the roll in operative relation to forms on the type bed of the press. 7

An auxiliary ink distributing device for a press of the bed and cylinder type having mountings for a brush supporting bar adjacent the cylinder, comprising a unitinbar and an ink distributing roll, the bar being releasably attachable to said mountings-on the press to hold the r01 in operative relation to forms on the type bed of the press and means detachably holding together the bar and roll in the unit.

8. An auxiliary ink distributing device for a press of the bed and cylinder type having a mounting for a brush supporting bar adjacent the cylinder, comprising a unit including a brush: supporting bar. and brush, a distributing roll, and means uniting said bar and roll in the unit and rotatably supporting the roll, the bar being releasably attachable to said mountings on the press to hold the roll in operative relation to forms on the type bed of the press.

9. An auxiliary ink distributing device for a press of the bed and cylinder type having mountings for supporting a brush in operative relation to the cylinder, comprising a unit including an ink distributing roll, a vibrating roll, and means rotatably supporting said rolls in cooperative relation; and means for releasably attaching said unit to said brush mountings on the press to hold the distributing roll in operative relation to forms on the type bed of the press.

10. An auxiliary ink distributing device for a press of the bed and cylinder type having mountings for a brush supporting bar adjacent the cylinder, comprising a unit including a brush-supporting bar, an ink distributing roll, a vibrating roll, and means uniting said bar and rolls in the unit and rotatably' supporting the rolls in cooperating relation, the bar being attachable to said mountings on the press to hold a brush in operative relation to the press: cylinder and brush supporting hold the distributing roll in operative relation to forms on the type bed of the press for extending the ink distributing range of the press.

11. A printing press of the bed and cylinder type having ink distributing means operative upon the forms at one side of the cylinder and a mounting at the opposite side of the cylinder for supporting a brush in operin cooperative relation, said device being attached to the brush supporting bar and held in operative relation to the type forms.

3. In a printing press of the bed and cylinder type having ink distributing means operative upon the forms at one side of the cylinder and a pair of fixed slots at the opposite side of the cylinder adjacent the ends of the cylinder and opening away from it, a bar having its ends fitted in said slots, fastening means releasably holding the bar in said slots, and an ink distributing device attached to said bar and comprising a distributing roll and a vibrating roll rotatably supported in cooperative relation, the'b'ar holding said device With the distributing roll in operative relation to the type forms and the device and the bar being removable as a unit when said fastening means for the bar are released.

14:. In a printing press ofthe bed and cylinder type having ink distributing means operative upon the type forms at one side of the cylinder, the combination of an auxiliary ink distributing device mounted upon the press and comprising a distributing roll operative upon the type forms at the opposite side of the cylinder, and a vibrating roll operable to distributeink upon said distributing'roll; a track member carried by the bed' to reciprocate therewith and extending longitudinally a material distance beyond one end thereof; a rotatable member engaged by said track member for rotation thereby upon reciprocation of the bed, said rotatable member being operatively connected to one of said rolls to rotate said roll as the bed is reciprocated, the extended length of said track member maintaining it in operative relation to said rotatable member at the limit of rearward movement of the bed.

15. In a printing press of the bed and cylinder type having ink distributing means operroll and a vibrating roll rotatably supported v ative upon the type forms at one side of the cylinder, the combination of an auxiliary ink distributing device mounted upon the press and comprising a distributing roll operative upon the type forms at the opposite side of the cylinder; a track rail fixed to the bed and extending longitudinally a material distance beyond one end thereof; and a supporting roller for said auxiliary device mounted to roll upon said track rail as the bed is reciprocated, the extended length of said rail maintaining it in supporting relation to said roller at the limit of rearward movement of the bed.

16. In a printing press of the bed and cylinder type having ink distributing means operative upon the forms at one side of the cylinder, the combination of an auxiliary ink distributing device detachably mounted upon the press and comprising a. distributing roll operable upon the forms at the opposite side of the cylinder; a bed bearer for the cylinder fixed to the bed and extending longitudinally a material distance beyond one end of the bed; and a supporting roller for said auxiliary device mounted to roll upon said bed bearer as the bed is reciprocated, the ex-' tended length of said bearer maintaining it in supporting relation to said roller at the limit of rearward movement of the bed.

17. In a printing press of the bed and cylinder type having ink distributing means operative upon the forms at one side of the cylinder, the combination of an auxiliary ink distributing device detachably mounted upon the press and comprising a distributing roll operable upon the forms at the opposite side of the cylinder, and a vibrating roll operable to distribute ink upon said distributing roll; a bed bearer for the cylinder carried by the bed to reciprocate therewith and extending longitudinally a material distance beyond one end of the bed; a supporting roller for said auxiliary device mounted to roll upon said bed bearer as the bed is reciprocated, said roller being operatively connected to one of said rolls to rotate said roll as the bed is reciprocated the extended length of said bearer maintaining it in operative relation to said roller at the limit of rearward movement of the bed.

18. In a printing press of the bed and cylinder type having ink distributing means operative upon the forms at one side of the cylinder, the combination of an auxiliary ink distributing device detachably mounted upon the press and comprising a distributing roll operable upon the forms at the opposite side of the cylinder, and a vibrating roll operable to distribute ink upon said distributing roll; a pair of bed bearers for the cylinder fixed to the bed and extending longitudinally a material distance beyond one end of the bed; supporting rollers for said auxiliary device, mounted to roll upon the bed bearers as the bed is reciprocated; one of said rollers being opexatively connected to one of said rolls to rotate said roll as the bed is reciprocated, the extended length of the said bearers maintaining them in operative relation to said rollers at one limit of the bed movement.

19. In a printing press of the bed and cylinder type having ink distributing means operative upon the forms at one side of the cylinder, a demountable auxiliary ink-distributing device at the opposite side of the cylinder comprising a unit including an ink distributing roll, end brackets rotatably supporting said roll, and means rigidly connecting together said end brackets in the unit; and means detachably holding said unit in opera tive position upon the press.

20. In a printing press of the bed and cylinder type having ink distributing means operative upon the forms at one side of the cylinder, a demountable auxiliary ink distributing device at the opposite side of the cylinder comprising an ink distributing roll, a Vibrating roll cooperating with said distributing roll, end brackets rotatably supporting said rolls, and means rigidly connecting together said end brackets in the unit to hold the parts of the unit assembled when removed trom the press; and means detachably holding said unit in operative position upon the press.

21. In a printing press of the bed and cylin-. der type having ink distributing means operative upon the type forms at one side of the cylinder, the combination of an auxiliary ink distributing device detachably mounted upon the press and comprising a distributing roll operative upon the forms at the opposite side of the cylinder, and a vibrating roll cooperating with said distributing roll to distribute ink on the latter; a bed bearer for the cylinder fixed to the bed to reciprocate with it; and a roller frictionally engaging said bed bearer for rotation thereby as the bed is reciprocated, said roller being operatively connected to one of said rolls to rotate said roll as the bed is recip-rocated.

22. In a printing press of the bed and cylin' der type, having ink-distributing means operative upon the forms at one side of the cylinder, a demountable auxiliary ink-distributing device at the opposite side of the cylinder comprising a unit including an ink-distributing roll operable upon the forms, a vibrating roll cooperating with said distributing roll, end brackets rotatably supporting said rolls and means connecting together said on brackets in the unit independently of the rolls to hold the parts of the unit assembled when removed from the press; and means detachably holding said unit in operative position upon the press.

In witness whereof, I hereunto set my hand this fifteenth day of May, 1928.

- MATTHEW A. CUNNINGHAM. 

